The N&O has this article on the newly completed I-795 between Wilson and Goldsboro.
Two thoughts from this:
1. There’s an I-795??? Does this just not prove the point that transportation funding is royally screwed up in NC when we’ve got Interstate roads between two small-medium eastern NC towns, yet I-85, I-40, I-540, I-485 and all the other metropolitan areas suffer in congestion.
The Eastern NC domination of politicians (Hunt, Easley, Basnight, and Rand) have so bastardized the Highway Trust Fund that we’re building loops around Wilson, Wilmington and Fayetteville before we finish loops around Greensboro, Charlotte and Raleigh.
2. Another botched paving job? Really? You’d think after the I-40 fiasco they’d try to not let that type of thing happen again.
It’s time for serious reform of DOT. Blow it up and start over — it’s just not serving the citizens of NC any longer. If this was a parliamentary system and we could hold a "no confidence" vote, I don’t know that anyone would vote to sustain it. However, I’m doubtful anything will happen as long as the leadership in the Senate remains and until we get a governor from west of I-95.
Eric Weaver says
The folks east of I-95 would sure vote to keep DOT as-is!
Also voting for the status quo would be whichever corrupt DOT employees who have not been caught yet, everyone in the DMV, and a whole army of shovel-leaning Division of Highways employees. There are several more natural constituencies that like things just fine as they stand, and who are served just fine.
But most of the citizens of North Carolina are NOT well served as things stand. Chris, I second your motion to disband and start over.
Vote Weaver in 2008!